When I reflect on my journey — as a professional tennis athlete, LGBTQ media & Wall Street advocate, and proud gay man — I’m overwhelmed by how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.

In a celebration of inclusion, community, and creativity, Plays of Wilton (POW!), in partnership with the City of Wilton Manors, will present an outdoor performance of The Sound of Music tailored specifically for the deaf and hearing-impaired.

Every June, the floodgates open: rainbow logos, Pride-themed merchandise, and flashy campaigns promising support for the LGBTQ community. For years, I welcomed it — cautiously. I believed visibility mattered. I still do. But now I’m asking a harder question: when the glitter settles and the hashtags fade, whose side are these corporations really on?

In 2025, the LGBTQ community finds itself navigating an increasingly hostile and complex digital landscape. Social media — once a beacon of connection, identity, and advocacy — has become a double-edged sword, simultaneously offering platforms for visibility while enabling a resurgence of hate, censorship, and systemic erasure.

In every community, there are unsung heroes — those who, without expectation or reward, pour their heart into making the world a little better. In Wilton Manors, that hero is Cathy Cerneglia.

The LGBTQ community has come a long way, but let’s be real — there’s still a lot of work to do. Every day, many of us still deal with barriers that make life harder than it should be. If you’ve ever wondered how you can help, you’re not alone — and the good news is, there’s a place for everyone to get involved.